Television forum table



Feb. 20, 1951 D. GOLENPAUL TELEVISION FORUM TABLE Filed March 5, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TELEVISION FORUM TABLE Dan Golenpaul, New York, N. Y.

Application March 3, 1949, Serial No. 79,330

2 Claims. (01. 3l1-1) of furniture and relates more particularly to a novel table designed primarily, although not exclusively, for use in television broadcasts of programs of the quiz variety :and others wherein there are a limited number 'of participants who are called upon from time to time to speak.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel table of this character which will allow the participants to be grouped in a relatively small area, substantially equally spaced from the television camera, without, however, appearing to be crowded. g I

Yet another object of'the invention is to provide a table having a table top with an apronlike supporting means therefor, the table top having a curved rear edge and a front opening provided with display means for exhibiting charts or the like.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a combination table embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

"Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the component parts of the table.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another of the component parts thereof.

Fig. 6 is a broken section taken on line 66 of Fig. 2. I

The table of the present invention may be constructed in the two sections 8 and 9 illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, the latter section forming a table supporting member replacing the usual legs and comprising a front vertical wall Ill and terminal or wing portions II and I2 which extend rearwardly of the front wall at less than a right angle thereto. In the center of the front wall there is formed a generally rectangular opening I3 extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof.

The other section illustrated in Fig. 4 comprises a table top Hi whose rear edge [5 is convexly curved and constitutes an arc of a relative large circle. 'The front is composed of two spaced, straight edge sections it and H and the side edges I8 and i9 are disposed at less than a right angle to the front edge sections and preferably bear the same angular relationship to such front edges as wing sections H and I2 bear to front wall It. Between front edge sections l6 and ii there is a generally rectangular opening extending rearwardly substantially one-half the width of the table top.

A display rack comprises a downwardly and forwardly inclined wall 22 Whose upper edge 23,,is joined vto the rear edge of the opening in the table top. The opposedends of the. wall 22 are joined to the table top by generally triangular wall 2 3 and at its lower end, wall 22 is connected with a bottom wall or shelf 25 which is disposed generally at right angles to inclined wall 22. For the purpose of imparting rigidity to the structure as well as giving it a more finished appearance,

the front edge and the end edges of the table top 7 are constructed in the manner illustrated in Fig.

6 and include a rail 26 underlying such edges and a relatively thin facing strip 2'1.

This facing strip preferably extends down-- wardly along the forward edgesof end walls 24, as shown at 39 and 3| and also along the forward edge of base wall '25 as indicated at 32. The lower edge 33 of the opening IS in front wall It] is inclined at the same angle as rear wall 22 of the display rack, said edge 33 supporting the display rack as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be noted from Fig. 1 that front wall It! is spaced inwardly of the forward edge of the table top and that the wing portions II and i2 terminate at the rear curved edge iii of such table top. If the parts are separately formed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 it is only necessary to suitably secure the table top to the upper edges of members I0, I l and I2 and the table is ready for use.

The performers sit to the rear of curved edge 85.

and there is ample leg room between this edge and members In, I I and I2. A stack of the charts (not shown) suitably arranged in proper order is placed on the display rack and the performance may proceed.

The charts on the display rack are for the convenience of the studio audience whereas a duplicate of each chart is successively displayed to the participants of the round table discussion by an attendant standing forwardly of the table and to one side thereof, out of the range of the camera.

. In most instances the master of ceremonies will not be one of the parties sitting around the rear curved edge of the table; I

By confining the performers within this relatively small area and at a substantially equal distance from the camera, there is obtained a high degree of. definition and visibility with no unnecessary detail.

, While one form or embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes, and the construction and arrangement incidental to a specific application thereof have been disclosed and discussed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is tending rearwardly from the forward edge midway between the ends of the table, a display' rack disposed within such opening and comprising a chart-supporting wall extending from the rear edge of such opening downwardly and forwardly,

the upper portions of s'aid'wall terminating on such wall with the table top; and a rearwardly inclined wall at the lower end of the chart supporting wall,- the supporting means comprising a rectangular opening extending rearwardly from: the forward edge substantially midway between the ends of the table, a display rack disposed within such opening and comprising a chart-sum porting wall extending from the rear edge of such opening downwardly and forwardly, end wallsconnecting such Wall with the table top, and a rearwardly inclined wall atthe lower end of the chart supporting wallg'the supporting means comprising a vertical wall disposed to the rear of the front edge of the table top and extending a major portion of the length thereof, and rearwardly iriclined wing portions at opposite ends of said ---verticalwall-which terminate at the rear curved edge ofthe table top, said vertical wall having a centraL' 'reetangi-ilar opening extendin downthe plane of said table top, end walls connecting vertical walldisposed to the rear of and s'ub- 2 's'ta'ntially parallel with the front edge of the table top and extending a major portion of the length thereof, and rearwardly inclined win portions at opposite ends of said vertical wall disposed parallel relative to said table top side edges.

2. A combined table of the character described comprising a table top and an apron-like supporting means therefor, such table top being formed with a convexly curved rear edge, a substantially straight front edge and a generally 35 wardly-from its upper edge, the lower edge of the opening'forming a support for the chart-supporting wall.

DAN GOLENPAUL.

5 REFERENCES CITED 1 The following references are of record in the #file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 466,727 Y Reading Jan. .5, 1892 591,574 'Smith Oct. 12, 1897 2796,1215 'Hinkley Aug. 1, 1905 1,349,710 *Beeson .Aug. 17, 1920 1,353,208 Anderson Sept. 21, 1920 1 1,364,289 -Low etal.- .e 'Jan. 4, 1921 2,325,324 Kent .1 "July 27, 1943 

